spend the night
spend the night — 慣用語
1. to sleep somewhere for one night, especially somewhere away from your own home
過夜
在某處睡一晚
to sleep somewhere for one night, especially somewhere away from your own home
The hikers spent the night in a small shelter near the lake.
這些健行者在湖邊的一間小避難屋過夜。
spent the night in + place
After the late train was cancelled, several passengers spent the night at the station.
末班火車取消後，幾名乘客在車站過夜。
spent the night at + place
The children asked if they could spend the night with their cousins.
孩子們問可不可以去表親家過夜。
Because the road was closed, the driver had to spend the night nearby.
因為道路封閉，那名駕駛只好在路邊旅館過夜。
- stay overnight
very close in meaning and often more direct
- sleep over
informal; often used by children or for staying at someone's home
- go home
leave instead of staying somewhere overnight
文法句型
spend the night
spend the night at/in + place
spend the night with + person
spend the night away from home
用法筆記
This sense is about where someone sleeps for the night. It does not itself say anything about a sexual relationship; that meaning depends on context and is treated separately in sense 2.
常見錯誤
Do not add an object after 'night' for this idiom. Say 'We spent the night at the hostel,' not 'We spent the night the hostel.'
Use 'spend the night' for one night. For a longer visit, use 'stay for two nights' or 'stay for a week'.
2. to have sex with someone during an overnight stay
共度春宵
和某人一起過夜並發生性關係
to have sex with someone during an overnight stay
The tabloid claimed that the actor had spent the night with a former colleague.
那家小報聲稱那名演員曾和一位前同事共度一夜。
spent the night with + person
In the interview, she denied spending the night with him.
在訪談中，她否認曾和他共度一夜。
spending the night with + person
The phrase can sound suggestive when someone says they spent the night with a date.
當有人說自己和約會對象共度一夜時，這個說法可能帶有性暗示。
He told reporters it was false that he had spent the night with his assistant.
他告訴記者，說他曾和助理共度春宵並不是真的。
- sleep with
more direct and clearly sexual
- have sex with
plain, explicit wording
文法句型
spend the night with + person
用法筆記
This is a euphemistic meaning. In neutral contexts, 'spend the night with someone' can simply mean sleep at that person's home; the sexual meaning comes from the wider context.
常見錯誤
Do not assume every use of 'spend the night with someone' is sexual. Context decides whether it means simply staying overnight or having sex.